The draft of the XIII World Health Organization (WHO) general programme of work 2019-2023 is focused on three interconnected strategic priorities to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages: advancing universal health coverage (UHC), addressing health emergencies and promoting healthier populations. At least half of the world’s population cannot obtain essential health services, according to the 2017 World Bank/WHO report.

In order to feed a world of nine billion people by 2050, we need more people working in agriculture in all its forms. Despite the universal agreement on the importance of agriculture to our future, however, we are not succeeding in attracting high-potential young people and women to the field. While the reasons for this are many, we believe that one central problem is an insufficient attention given to creation of robust, productive networks.